Felixstowe

Condition level:

Survey reason:

Comments:

The memorial comprises a classical Corinthian column surmounted by an urn in two tiers with a Dove of Peace above. The column sits on a plinth with classical mouldings which sits on tiers of three steps. The main base of the column has tablets on the seaward and landward faces commemorating the erection of the memorial and the endowment of the cottage hospital; the other two faces contain the names of the fallen of the Great War. These tablets are of a white marble with incised lettering, lead filled. On sloping stonework on the steps are four tablets containing the names of the fallen of the World War II, of a dark grey polished granite with incised white painted lettering. With the exception of the memorial tablets referred to above, the construction is all of Portland stone. The dove figure on the apex is a replacement for the original and appears to be made of a resin. Parts of the original, of lead, are held in storage in the Town Hall (no longer a single figure).

Dove figure: this is in sound order. It is held to the top of the monument with screws which appear to be sound. The figure is securely held. It is reported that there was an olive branch in the dove’s beak.

The urn: this is much stained by verdigris from a former bronze or copper dove but the stonework is in reasonable order. There is apparent cracking in places although this appears to be a bed in the stone and does not pose any threat at this stage. It is not clear why there should be verdigris present when the old figure was of lead.

The capital: the top surfaces are satisfactory. The stonework in general is structurally sound. There has been much erosion of detail particularly on the seaward faces. The landward face is less eroded and detail remains crisp. The curled leaves of the stonework and the detail of the scrolls at the corners is eroding to a greater or lesser extent but all elements remain securely held. These will continue to erode over time, it would help the survival of the stonework to remove the black soot deposits under the stonework in places.  The joint between the capital and the column shaft is open in places and in need of pointing. The existing mortars should be sampled and analysed since these seem to have been quite successful in surviving. Samples could be taken at low level to inform the eventual mortar mix.

The column shaft: the surfaces have eroded particularly on the seaward sides. Given that the column has been in position for 98 years the degree of erosion is remarkably small. There is certainly no structural threat arising from this erosion. Being a natural material comprising the remains of sea creatures laid down millions of years ago, the stone shows shells where it has eroded and in one position a pebble or larger fossil has fallen out leaving a hole. This is self-draining and is not in itself problematic but it is close to the edge of one of the flutes of the column; point it so that the flute’s erosion is slowed. The mortar will be sacrificial and will in the course of time erode faster than the stonework.

Column base: this again is much eroded on the seaward side, particularly the south west side. The worst erosion is on the south west corner. This appears to coincide with a slightly softer bed in the stone. The stone is all structurally stable (indeed, there is a light growth of lichens on the horizontal surfaces suggesting that there is very little erosion ongoing here). No work is suggested but clean out and point up the joints between the base and the shaft on the south east and south west sides.

Plinth including the cornice and base mouldings: the stonework of the cornice and the base is generally in good order: there is minor pitting of the top of the cornice but lichens growing here showing there is no routine erosion. There is a bed showing in the stone on the west face but this is not a defect. Lichens again grow on the base stonework showing that there is no ongoing erosion.

The stonework of the plinth between the cornice and the moulding is largely covered by the memorial tablets but has eroded particularly on the south east and south west corners. There are past mortar repairs at the top of the south east corner and at the top and the middle of the south west corner. These repairs could be cut out and remade in a more sympathetic mortar when other repairs are carried out.

Stepped base: in general this is satisfactory. There is no significant erosion and the steps have a light covering of lichen. The bedding mortar is generally in reasonable order: there is hair line cracking in places in the bedding mortar but not such as to justify cutting out and repointing yet. Stonework is cracked on the lowest step on the south east corner and the west side centre step north of the memorial tablet. While necessary skills are on site these could be drilled and fixed with stainless steel dowels.

There has been minor loss of surface on the west side lowest step south of the memorial tablet but this is very small and appears to relate to a bed in the stone. There is lichen on the surface showing it is not an ongoing problem. The perpend joint in the stonework here is quite open and should be pointed.

Stonework supporting the Second World War Memorial tablets: this is in sound order in general except for the south tablet upper west section and the east tablet upper south section. In both cases the stone is eroding but it does not yet threaten stability of the memorial or unduly affect the setting of the tablet. There is lichen on the surfaces in both cases which suggests that the erosion is very slow. It may be necessary to piece in some new stonework here in 5 to 10 years’ time. This can be done easily from ground level using a suitable stonemason.

York stone border: the York Stone border at lawn level around the base is satisfactory. Rake out and point up the joint between the border and the memorial on the south and west sides and at the south east corner to prevent plant growths recurring

Second World War tablets: these are all in satisfactory condition. It is believed that the lettering was repainted approximately 10 years ago. At this stage assume that repainting may be needed in 5 to 10 years’ time.

First World War Memorial tablets: these are of white marble and appear to be held to the plinth with iron dowels or cramps. There are obvious defects with cracking on the north tablet and staining on the site of the cramps; staining on the east tablet; loss of the marble surface in one position on the south and staining in another and staining on the west tablet. The west tablet also has a bed in the marble on the south edge; this forms a weakness although it is held captive.  The tablets appear to be soundly held at present but as can be seen on the south and also on the north the iron fixings are gradually rusting, expanding and damaging the tablets and also causing unsightly iron staining. The tablets should be supported by a stone conservator, cleaned and refixed with stainless steel or bronze dowels. This will require drilling out of the fixings and a detailed method statement will need to be evolved with a conservator to ensure the best job possible.

Surroundings: the memorial is set in a narrow strip of grass lawn with flower beds around that and a concrete paving slab path connecting the lawn to the main pavement on the north side. No comment is made on the condition of the landscaping nor of the small retaining wall towards the promenade and the sloping paths on the east and west sides, except to say that the setting is reasonable and that with the York stone border at the base of the memorial, maintenance of lawns etc does not pose a threat to the memorial.

Survey date:

What is the condition of the surrounding area?

What is the condition of the stonework?

What is the condition of the inscriptions and names?

Is the memorial accessible to the public?

Has the memorial been subject to any accidental or malicious damage in the last five years?

Do you think the site is at significant risk of accidental or malicious damage in the next 2 years?

Are there any known planning applications or issues related to this memorial?